Fire-extinguishing apparatus.



E. T. & E. W. COPELAND. FIRE BXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

1,029,??? A Patented June 11,1912,

York city, New York,

" which consists nnrT f STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

EDWIN TURNER COPELAND AND EDWIN WARD COPELAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1912.

Application filed June 3, 1911. Serial No. 631,121.

To all whom it may concern:

{Be it known that we, EDWIN TURNER COPELAND and EDWIN WARD COPELAND, citi- Zens .of the United States, residing-in New provement in Fire-Extinguishing,'Appara tus, of which the following is a specification. l I

Our invention relates to a fire extinguishing apparatus, and particularly to that class in a series ofautomatically operated sprinkler-heads. I a We are aware that heretofore there have been employed systems of fire extinguishers,-

in which there are sprinkler-heads so -constructed as to be operated by. the heat caused by a fire orin any other manner, both directly by the fire or heat therefrom coming into contact with a fusible member of the sprinkler-head, and indirectly by means causing the apparatus to operate upon a predetermined rise in temperature from any source whatsoever.

Our invention relates more particularly to the latter class of devices, out the same, we prefer to employ a frame, a valve therein and a series of devices, one of which is separable and all of which are so related as to normally maintain the said valve in position, and abnormally when -the parts of the separable device ,are separated, to automatically release the valve so that the water or other pressure behind the same, on

seats the valve and liberates itself, as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

, In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sprinkler-head forming part of our apparatus. Fig. 2is an elevation and partial central. section showing diagrammatically the electric circuits in our improved apparatus; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing one member of the separable device before the same is completed. Fig. 4 is a plan Fig. 51s a cross-section on line 00, w, Flg. 4. form of the device shown in Fig. 4. Fig.7 is across section of this modified form of device after the same has been shaped and completed. and Fig.- 8 is.a cross section on.

larger scale showing this modified form: of separable member secured to the plate member'therecf.

Referring our improve apparatus we employ a sprinkler-head preferably consistingin a frame 12 of a T-member 13 fixed in the haveinvented an Im-,

and in carrying view of the same part when completed.

view vof a modified I .blank 31 in the articularly to the drawing, in

or yoke 10,-at one end of, which there is provlded a tubular exteriorl'y threaded, portion 11, by which the yoke is connected to the leg pipe line 1i for supplying the water to the fire ext-in guishlng system. At the upper end of the tubular member 11' and in the base of the frame 10 is a valve seat-15, upon which is normally seated a valvelG which preferably is provided with a conical top as indicated at 17. In the top or upper portion 18 of the frame,

such as are'co-mmonly employed in sprinkler-heads. 'The inner end of the clamp screw 19' is preferably conical, as indicated at 20. We also employ an arm or bar 22, on the under side of which at one end, there is a circular recess 23 adapted to receive a P011113 of the conical top 17 of thevalve 16 and on the under side at the opposite end,

there 1s a transverse recess 24. At the upper side of this arm 22 adjacent to the portion in which therecess is provided, but offset therefrom, and nearer the center of the bar,

arm and being provided in its upper surface adjacent to its extremity, with a recess 29.

In connection with the hereinbefore described parts we employ a heat coil member which is indicated at 30, as shown in Figs.

3, 4 and 5. --This member preferably is made from a blank 31 of shown in Fig. 3, provided-with the holes and of the base of mica or other insulating material 33, around which a coil 34 of German silver or other wire is wound as indicated, one end of the heat coil 34 being electrieally connected to the end of the cable 35,

sheet metal, shaped as nd the coil and base being surrounded by a layer of mica or other insulating material 52 and the opposite end 36 of the heat coil we employ a clamp screw 19 which" passes centrally through a distributer 21 Connected to or integral turned over this insulating casing and the coil' with its base and easing placed on the over the central portion 48 thereof so as to form an inclosed structure. Thisheat coil position shown in Fig. 8, and those portions 1-7. and 49 of the blank turned soldered joint or when the parts member is then connected to a plate 29 by a otherwise. As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, when this member is in position, the edges of the openings 32 pass within'the recesses 24, and the edges of the openings in the plate 29" pass Within the recesses in the said arm 27. Obviously now are in the position shown in Figs. 1' and 2, and the clamp screw 19 turned to place, there is more or'less tension placed on the heat coil member 30, which of course maintains the. parts in position. one side of the frame 10, we employ a collar 37 which is insulated therefrom by a layer 38 of insulating material, and this collar 37 is provided with a suitable terminal for electrical connection. also employ a collar 39 and this collar isalso provided with a nect-ion.

40 indicates a thermostat, and 41 and 42 respectively the terminals thereof; 43 represents a battery or source of electrical 'en-- ergy. To complete the circuit, the collar 39 is connected to one terminal of-the battery by a line 44, the other terminal of the battery being connected to one terminal 41 of the thermostat by a. line 45, the other terminal 42 of the thermostat to the terminal on the collar 37 by a line 46, it being understood thatthe free end of the cable 35 is also secured and electrically connected by a terminal in this collar 37.,

Referring to,I*igs. 6 and 7, it will be obvious that instead ofemploying the metal blank 31, as shown in Figs, 3 and 4, we may employ atube indicated at 51, within which the heat coil as hereinbefore described,m'ay be placed and then the tube t-ened as shown in Fig. 7, and then joined to the plate member of; the separable device as shown'in Fig. '8, by the soldered joint 50, as hereinbefore described. As will be understood, the thermostat 40 may be set to close the circuit at any desired temperature and when this temperature is attained, irrespective of the cause of the rise in temperature, the electric circuit will be closed and almost instantly suliicient heat will be generated in the heat. coil to open the soldered joint to cause the heat coil member to separate from the plate member of the separable device, whereupon it will be understood, the arm )9 "'7 fall by gravity from their normal positions,

thereby releasing the valve 16, permitting the water or other fluid under pressure in the pipe line 14 to unseat the valve and liberate itself. It will also be understood that we have described our invention, in con- Around joint, and an In the pipe line 14 we terminal for electrical concrushed or fiat-- and the upright 26 with its arm 27, will nection with a sprinkler-head for fire extinguishingapparatus, but that the same may be used for numerous other purposes without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention, and furthermore that any suitable resistance may be em ployed in place of the Gegman silver c011.

\Ve claim as our invention: v

1. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a sprinkler-head, avalve and separable devices for normally holding the valve closed, of members related to the latter devices and connected by a fusible electrical heating device inclosed by one of said members and in close relation to the fusible joint. I

2. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a sprinkler-head, a valve and separable devices for-normally holding the valve closed, of members related to the latter devices and connected by a fusible joint and one of said members comprising a heat coil, an apertured plate bent over upon itself and inclosing the said heat coil so that-the heat coil is 1n close relation to the fusible joint.

3. In a fire extinguishing apparatus,-the combination with a sprinkler-head, a'valve and separable devices for normally holding the valve closed, of members related to the latter devices and connected by a fusible joint, one of said members comprising a heat coil, one end of the convoluted wire of which is free, an insulating covering to said heat coil against the outer surface of which .the loose wire is bent and a sheet metal inclosure f r said heat coi and its insulating wrapping so that the free end of the heat coil wire is in close relation to the fusible. joint.

4. In a fire extinguishing apparatus, the combination with a sprinkler-head, a valve and separable devices for normally holding the valve closed, of members related to the latter devices and connected by a fusible joint, one of said members comprising a heat coil, one end of the convoluted wire of which is free, an insulating covering to said heat coil against the outer surface of which the loose wire is bent, and a sheet metal inclosure for said heat coil and its insulating wrapping so that the free end of the heat coil wire is in electrical contact with the fusible joint.

Signed by us this 26th dayof May, 1911.

EDIVIN TURNER COPELAND. EDWIN WARD COPELAND.

Witnesses Geo. T. PIM KNEY, BERTIIA M. ALLEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). c. 

